It's Like The Break Up of Donnie and Marie
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WNDU (South Bend) has the only brother and sister Anchor team in the country, but that is about to end.
Maureen McFadden, who anchors the news alongside her brother Terry McFadden says that she is going to retire from the station.
This is her note to viewers:
I have big and exciting news to share with you tonight.
After nearly 40 years at WNDU, I am announcing my retirement in early spring.
The decision wasn't an easy one because I truly love my job and my WNDU family and of course all of you, our viewers. I have had the honor and privilege of being welcomed into your homes every night. For that I am truly grateful.
I work with the best people in the business, and while my general manager and news director asked me to stay on, they also were gracious accepting my retirement. I've been working since I was 16 years old, and it's just time.
I promised my husband I would retire when our three sons were out of college. Our last son graduated in May of 2017, so Jim gave me a little extra time.
Family means everything to me, which is why Terry and I made the decision to stay here in Michiana. I was able to take care of my parents as they aged and then passed, and watch my nieces and nephews grow up. For that I will always be grateful. There aren't a lot of people in the business who are able to stay in their hometown for their entire career, so I feel like the luckiest woman in the business.
After Terry followed me into the business, it was always our dream to anchor together, and fortunately that happened. We believe we are the only sibling anchor team in the country, and I could not have asked for a better partner in this business or a better brother. I'll make it Terry's job when I'm gone to post our "Mo and Bro" pictures so you can see what I am up to.
And while I may be among the most conspicuous workers here at NewsCenter 16, I am merely a part of a dedicated and professional staff that makes us look good every night, from behind the cameras to our reporters, editors, photographers, engineers, sales staff and management.
With our sons grown and our oldest living in Wyoming and our youngest in New York City, it's time to be able to pick up, load Lucy into the car and visit whenever we want. Thankfully our middle son, who was in South America for 3 and a half years, is now in Chicago, so that drive is a little easier when working a full-time job.
would be remiss if I did not give a heavenly shoutout to my original bosses, Baz O'Hagan and Harry Kevorkian.
Harry taught a telecommunications course at Notre Dame that I lucked into last semester senior year, and that's when the light bulb turned on that broadcast journalism was the path I wanted to take.
They agreed to give me a post-graduation internship at WNDU, and Mike Collins, news director at the time, hired me on full time after that.
For those of you who don't know, we used to own radio station U93, and I met my husband because I was hired to anchor morning drive radio after I graduated from Saint Mary's. Jim had just graduated from Notre Dame and was hired as their first morning DJ. We both worked the 4 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift, so we'd joke that there was no one else to date.
I am forever grateful to my biggest fans: my husband and three sons, who put up with my wacky schedule for years. They simply are the loves of my life and I could not have done this without them.
You'll still see me every night until early spring. I've learned so much from the people I have had the pleasure of interviewing and the stories they have shared. That's been my richest reward. Thank you for your support and kindness. And if you see me in the grocery store or restaurant, don't hesitate to stop by and say hello. Because it's more than a slogan: I've lived here my entire life, and "this is home."
For now, thank you. Wish me luck.
Maureen
H/T WNDU
